Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W)

Passus 6

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Passus sextus de visione vt supra

W6.1 (KD6.1)This were a wikkede wey · but who-so hadde a gyde
W6.2 (KD6.2) That wolde folwen vs ech a foot · þus þis folk hem mened

W6.3 (KD6.3)¶ Quod Perkyn þe Plowman · by Seint Peter of Rome
W6.4 (KD6.4) I haue an half acre to erie · by þe heiȝe weye
W6.5 (KD6.5) Hadde I eryed þis half acre · and sowen it after
W6.6 (KD6.6) I wolde wende wiþ yow · and þe wey teche

W6.7 (KD6.7)¶ This were a long lettyng · quod a lady in a Scleyre
W6.8 (KD6.8) What sholde we wommen · werche þe while

W6.9 (KD6.9)¶ Somme shul sowe þe sak quod Piers · for shedyng of þe whete
W6.10 (KD6.10) And ye louely ladies · wiþ youre longe fyngres
W6.11 (KD6.11) That ye haue silk and Sandel · to sowe whan tyme is
W6.12 (KD6.12) Chesibles for Chapeleyns · chirches to honoure

W6.13 (KD6.13)¶ Wyues and widewes · wolle and flex spynneþ
W6.14 (KD6.14) Makeþ cloþ I counseille yow · and kenneþ so youre douȝtres
W6.15 (KD6.15) The nedy and þe naked · nymeþ hede how þei liggeþ
W6.16 (KD6.16) And casteþ hem cloþes · for so comaundeþ truþe
W6.17 (KD6.17) For I shal lenen hem liflode · but if þe lond faille
W6.18 (KD6.17.1) Flessh and breed boþe · to riche and to poore
W6.19 (KD6.18) As longe as I lyue · for þe lordes loue of heuene
W6.20 (KD6.19) And alle manere of men · þat þoruȝ mete and drynke libbeþ
W6.21 (KD6.20) Helpeþ hym to werche wiȝtliche · þat wynneþ youre foode

W6.22 (KD6.21)¶ By crist quod a knyȝt þoo · he kenneþ vs þe beste
W6.23 (KD6.22) Ac on þe teme trewely · tauȝt was I neuere
W6.24 (KD6.23) But kenne me quod þe knyȝt · and by crist I wole assaye

W6.25 (KD6.24)¶ By Seint Poul quod Perkyn · ye profre yow so faire
W6.26 (KD6.25) That I shal swynke and swete · and sowe for vs boþe
W6.27 (KD6.26) And oþere labours do for þi loue · al my lif-tyme
W6.28 (KD6.27) In couenaunt þat þow kepe · holy kirke and my-selue
W6.29 (KD6.28) Fro wastours and fro wikked men · þat þis world destruyeþ
W6.30 (KD6.29) And go hunte hardiliche · to hares and to foxes
W6.31 (KD6.30) To bores and to brokkes · þat breken doun myne hegges
W6.32 (KD6.31) And so188 affaite þi faucons · wilde foweles to kille
W6.33 (KD6.32) For swiche comeþ to my croft · and croppeþ my whete

W6.34 (KD6.33)¶ Curteisly þe knyȝt þanne · comsed þise wordes
W6.35 (KD6.34) By my power Piers quod he · I pliȝte þee my trouþe
W6.36 (KD6.35) To fulfille þis forward · þouȝ I fiȝte sholde
W6.37 (KD6.36) Als longe as I lyue · I shal þee mayntene

W6.38 (KD6.37)¶ Ye and yet a point quod Piers · I preye yow of moore
W6.39 (KD6.38) Loke ye tene no tenaunt · but truþe wole assente
W6.40 (KD6.39) And þouȝ ye mowe amercy hem · lat mercy be taxour
W6.41 (KD6.40) And mekenesse þi maister · maugree Medes chekes
W6.42 (KD6.41) And þouȝ pouere men profre yow · presentes and ȝiftes
W6.43 (KD6.42) Nyme it noȝt an auenture · ye mowe it noȝt deserue
W6.44 (KD6.43) For þow shalt yelde it ayein · at one yeres tyme189
W6.45 (KD6.44) In a ful perilous place · Purgatorie it hatte

W6.46 (KD6.45)¶ And mysbede noȝt þi bonde-men · þe bettre may þow spede
W6.47 (KD6.46) Thouȝ he be þyn vnderlyng here · wel may happe in heuene
W6.48 (KD6.47) That he worþ worþier set · and wiþ moore blisse
W6.49 (KD6.47α)Amice ascende superius
W6.50 (KD6.48) For in Charnel at chirche · cherles ben yuel to knowe
W6.51 (KD6.49) Or a knyȝt from a knaue þere · knowe þis in þyn herte

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W6.52 (KD6.50) And þat þow be trewe of þi tonge · and tales þat þow hatie           190(n)
W6.53 (KD6.51) But if þei ben of wisdom or of wit · þi werkmen to chaste
W6.54 (KD6.52) Hold wiþ none harlotes · ne here noȝt hir tales           191(n)
W6.55 (KD6.53) And namely at þe mete · swiche men eschuwe           192(n)
W6.56 (KD6.54) For it ben þe deueles disours · I do þe to vnderstonde           193(n)
W6.57 (KD6.55)¶ I assente by Seint Iame · seide þe knyȝt þanne
W6.58 (KD6.56) For to werche by þi wordes · þe while my lif dureþ

W6.59 (KD6.57)¶ And I shal apparaille me quod Perkyn · in pilgrymes wise
W6.60 (KD6.58) And wende wiþ yow I wile · til we fynde truþe
W6.61 (KD6.59) And caste on my cloþes · yclouted and hole
W6.62 (KD6.60) My cokeres and my coffes · for cold of my nailes
W6.63 (KD6.61) And hange myn hoper at myn hals · in stede of a Scryppe
W6.64 (KD6.62) A busshel of bred-corn · brynge me þer-Inne
W6.65 (KD6.63) For I wol sowe it my-self · and siþenes wol I wende
W6.66 (KD6.64) To pilgrymage as palmeres doon · pardon for to haue
W6.67 (KD6.65) And who-so helpeþ me to erie · and sowen here er I wende
W6.68 (KD6.66) Shal haue leue by oure lord · to lese here in heruest
W6.69 (KD6.67) And make hem murie þer-myd · maugree who-so bigruccheþ it
W6.70 (KD6.68) And alle kynne crafty men · þat konne lyuen in truþe
W6.71 (KD6.69) I shal fynden hem fode · þat feiþfulliche libbeþ

W6.72 (KD6.70)¶ Saue Iagge194 þe Iogelour · and Ionette of þe Stuwes
W6.73 (KD6.71) And danyel þe dees pleyere · and Denote þe baude
W6.74 (KD6.72) And frere þe faitour · and folk of hire195 ordre
W6.75 (KD6.73) And Robyn þe Ribaudour · for hise rusty wordes
W6.76 (KD6.74) Truþe tolde me ones · and bad me telle it after
W6.77 (KD6.75)Deleantur de libro viuencium · I sholde noȝt dele wiþ hem
W6.78 (KD6.76) For holy chirche is hote of hem · no tiþe to take
W6.79 (KD6.76α)Quia cum iustis non scribantur
W6.80 (KD6.77) They ben ascaped good auenture · god hem amende

W6.81 (KD6.78)¶ Dame werch whan tyme is · Piers wif hiȝte

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W6.82 (KD6.79)¶ His douȝter hiȝte do riȝt so · or þi dame shal þee bete
W6.83 (KD6.80) His sone hiȝte Suffre þi Souereyns · to hauen hir wille
W6.84 (KD6.81) Deme hem noȝt for if þow doost · þow shalt it deere abugge
W6.85 (KD6.82) Lat god yworþe wiþ al · for so his word techeþ
W6.86 (KD6.83) For now I am old and hoor · and haue of myn owene
W6.87 (KD6.84) To penaunce and to pilgrimage · I wol passe wiþ þise oþere
W6.88 (KD6.85)¶ For-þi I wole er I wende · do write my biqueste
W6.89 (KD6.86)In dei nomine amen · I make it my-selue
W6.90 (KD6.87) He shal haue my soule · þat best haþ deserued it
W6.91 (KD6.88) And fro þe fend it defende · for so I bileue
W6.92 (KD6.89) Til I come to hise acountes · as my Credo me telleþ
W6.93 (KD6.90) To haue a relees and a remission · on þat rental I leue

W6.94 (KD6.91)¶ The kirke shal haue my caroyne · and kepe my bones
W6.95 (KD6.92) For of my corn and catel · she craued þe tiþe
W6.96 (KD6.93) I paide it ful196 prestly · for peril of my soule
W6.97 (KD6.94) For-þi is he holden I hope · to haue me in his masse
W6.98 (KD6.95) And mengen in his memorie · amonges alle cristene

W6.99 (KD6.96)¶ My wif shal haue of þat I wan · wiþ truþe and namoore
W6.100 (KD6.97) And dele among my douȝtres · and my deere children
W6.101 (KD6.98) For þouȝ I deye to-day · my dettes are quyte
W6.102 (KD6.99) I bar hom þat I borwed · er I to bedde yede

W6.103 (KD6.100)¶ And wiþ þe residue and þe remenaunt · by þe Rode of Lukes
W6.104 (KD6.101) I wol worshipe þer-wiþ · truþe by my lyue
W6.105 (KD6.102) And ben his pilgrym atte plow · for pouere mennes sake
W6.106 (KD6.103) My plowfoot shal be my pikstaf · and picche atwo þe rotes
W6.107 (KD6.104) And helpe my cultour to kerue · and clense þe furwes

W6.108 (KD6.105)¶ Now is Perkyn and hise pilgrimes · to þe plow faren
W6.109 (KD6.106) To erie þis half acre · holpen hym manye
W6.110 (KD6.107) Dikeres and Delueres · digged vp þe balkes

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W6.111 (KD6.108) Ther-wiþ was Perkyn apayed · and preised hem faste
W6.112 (KD6.109)¶ Oþere werkmen þer were · þat wroȝten ful yerne
W6.113 (KD6.110) Ech man in his manere · made hym-self to doone
W6.114 (KD6.111) And somme to plese Perkyn · piked vp þe wedes

W6.115 (KD6.112)¶ At heiȝ prime Piers · leet þe plowȝ stonde
W6.116 (KD6.113) To ouersen hem hym-self · and who-so best wroȝte
W6.117 (KD6.114) He sholde be hired þer-after · whan heruest tyme come

W6.118 (KD6.115)¶ And þanne seten somme · and songen atte Nale
W6.119 (KD6.116) And holpen ere þis197 half acre · wiþ how trolly lolly

W6.120 (KD6.117)¶ Now by þe peril of my soule quod Piers · al in pure tene
W6.121 (KD6.118) But ye arise þe raþer · and rape yow to werche
W6.122 (KD6.119) Shal no greyn þat groweþ · glade yow at nede
W6.123 (KD6.120) And þouȝ ye deye for doel · þe deuel haue þat reccheþ

W6.124 (KD6.121)¶ Tho were faitours afered · and feyned hem blynde
W6.125 (KD6.122) Somme leide hir legges aliry · as swiche losels konneþ
W6.126 (KD6.123) And made hir mone to Piers · and preide hym of grace
W6.127 (KD6.124) For we haue no lymes to laboure with · lord ygraced be þe
W6.128 (KD6.125) Ac we preie for yow Piers · and for youre plowȝ boþe
W6.129 (KD6.126) That god of his grace · youre greyn multiplie
W6.130 (KD6.127) And yelde yow for youre Almesse · þat ye ȝyue vs here
W6.131 (KD6.128) For we may noȝt swynke ne swete · swich siknesse vs eyleþ

W6.132 (KD6.129)¶ If it be sooþ quod Piers þat ye seyn · I shal it soone aspie
W6.133 (KD6.130) Ye ben wastours I woot wel · and truþe woot þe soþe
W6.134 (KD6.131) And I am his olde hyne · and hiȝte hym to warne
W6.135 (KD6.132) Whiche þei were in þis world · hise werkmen apeired
W6.136 (KD6.133) Ye wasten þat men wynnen · wiþ trauaille and wiþ tene
W6.137 (KD6.134) Ac truþe shal teche yow · his teme to dryue
W6.138 (KD6.135) Or ye shul eten barly breed · and of þe broke drynke

W6.139 (KD6.136)¶ But if he be blynd or brokelegged · or bolted wiþ Irens
W6.140 (KD6.137) He shal ete whete breed · and drynke wiþ my-selue
W6.141 (KD6.138) Til god of his goodnesse · amendement hym sende
W6.142 (KD6.139) Ac ye myȝte trauaille as truþe wolde · and take mete and hyre
W6.143 (KD6.140) To kepe kyen in þe feld · þe corn fro þe beestes
W6.144 (KD6.141) Diken or deluen · or dyngen vp-on sheues
W6.145 (KD6.142) Or helpe make morter · or bere Muk a-feld

W6.146 (KD6.143)¶ In lecherie and in losengerie  ye lyuen and in Sleuþe
W6.147 (KD6.144) And al is þoruȝ suffraunce · þat vengeaunce yow ne takeþ

W6.148 (KD6.145)¶ Ac Ancres and heremites · þat eten noȝt but at Nones
W6.149 (KD6.146) And namoore er þe morwe · myn almesse shul þei haue
W6.150 (KD6.147) And of catel to kepe hem wiþ · þat han Cloistres and chirches

W6.151 (KD6.148)¶ Ac Robert Renaboute · shal noȝt haue of myne
W6.152 (KD6.149) Ne Postles but þei preche konne · and haue power of þe bisshop
W6.153 (KD6.150) Thei shul haue payn and potage · and make hem-self at ese
W6.154 (KD6.151)198(c) For it is an vnresonable Religion · þat haþ riȝt noȝt of certein

W6.155 (KD6.152)¶ And þanne gan wastour to wraþen hym · and wolde haue yfouȝte
W6.156 (KD6.153) And to Piers þe Plowman · he profrede his gloue
W6.157 (KD6.154) A Bretoner a braggere · abosted Piers als
W6.158 (KD6.155) And bad hym go pissen with his plowȝ · forpynede sherewe
W6.159 (KD6.156) Wiltow or neltow · we wol haue oure wille
W6.160 (KD6.157) Of þi flour and of þi flessh · fecche whanne vs likeþ
W6.161 (KD6.158) And maken vs murye þer-myde · maugree þi chekes

W6.162 (KD6.159)¶ Thanne Piers þe Plowman · pleyned hym to þe knyȝte
W6.163 (KD6.160) To kepen hym as couenaunt was · fro cursede sherewes
W6.164 (KD6.161) And fro þise wastours wolueskynnes · þat makeþ þe world deere
W6.165 (KD6.162) For þo wasten and wynnen noȝt · and þat ilke while
W6.166 (KD6.163) Worþ neuere plentee among þe peple · þe while my plowȝ liggeþ

W6.167 (KD6.164)¶ Curteisly þe knyȝt þanne · as his kynde wolde
W6.168 (KD6.165) Warnede wastour · and wissed hym bettre
W6.169 (KD6.166) Or þow shalt abigge by þe lawe · by þe ordre þat I bere

W6.170 (KD6.167)¶ I was noȝt wont to werche quod wastour · and now wol I noȝt bigynne
W6.171 (KD6.168) And leet liȝt of þe lawe · and lasse of þe knyȝte
W6.172 (KD6.169) And sette Piers at a pese · and his plowȝ boþe
W6.173 (KD6.170) And manaced Piers and his men · if þei mette eftsoone

W6.174 (KD6.171)¶ Now by þe peril of my soule quod Piers · I shal apeire yow alle
W6.175 (KD6.172) And houped after hunger · þat herde hym at þe firste
W6.176 (KD6.173) Awreke me of þise wastours quod he · þat þis world shendeþ

W6.177 (KD6.174)¶ Hunger in haste þoo · hente wastour by þe wombe199
W6.178 (KD6.175) And wrong hym so by þe wombe · þat boþe hise eiȝen watrede

W6.179 (KD6.176)¶ He buffetted þe Bretoner · aboute þe chekes
W6.180 (KD6.177) That he loked lik a lanterne · al his lif after
W6.181 (KD6.178) He bette hem so boþe · he brast ner hire guttes
W6.182 (KD6.179) Ne hadde Piers wiþ a pese loof · preyed hunger to cesse
W6.183 (KD6.180) They hadde be doluen · ne deme þow noon ooþer

W6.184 (KD6.181)¶ Suffre hem lyue he seide · and lat hem ete wiþ hogges
W6.185 (KD6.182) Or ellis benes or200 bren · ybaken togideres
W6.186 (KD6.182.1) Or ellis melk and mene ale · þus preied Piers for hem

W6.187 (KD6.183)¶ Faitours for fere her-of · flowen in-to Bernes
W6.188 (KD6.184) And flapten on wiþ flailes · fro morwe til euen
W6.189 (KD6.185) That hunger was noȝt so hardy · on hem for to loke
W6.190 (KD6.186) For a potful of peses · þat Piers hadde ymaked

W6.191 (KD6.187)¶ An heep of heremytes · henten hem spades
W6.192 (KD6.188) And kitten hir copes · and courtepies hem maked

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W6.193 (KD6.189)And wente as werkmen · wiþ spades and wiþ shoueles
W6.194 (KD6.190) And doluen and dikeden · to dryue awey hunger
W6.195 (KD6.191)¶ Blynde and bedreden · were bootned a þousand
W6.196 (KD6.192) That seten to begge siluer · soone were þei heeled
W6.197 (KD6.193) For þat was bake for bayard · was boote for many hungry
W6.198 (KD6.194) And many a beggere for benes · buxum was to swynke
W6.199 (KD6.195) And ech a pouere man wel apaied · to haue pesen for his hyre
W6.200 (KD6.196) And what Piers preide hem to do · as prest as a Sperhauk
W6.201 (KD6.197) And þer-of was Piers proud · and putte hem to werke
W6.202 (KD6.198) And yaf hem mete as he myȝte aforþe · and mesurable hyre

W6.203 (KD6.199)¶ Thanne hadde Piers pite · and preide hunger to wende
W6.204 (KD6.200) Hoom vn-to his owene yerd · and holden hym þere
W6.205 (KD6.201) For I am wel awroke · of wastours þoruȝ þy myȝte
W6.206 (KD6.202) Ac I preie þee er þow passe · quod Piers to hunger
W6.207 (KD6.203) Of beggeris and of bidderis · what best be to doone
W6.208 (KD6.204) For I woot wel be þow went · þei wol werche ful ille
W6.209 (KD6.205) For meschief it makeþ · þei be so meke nouþe
W6.210 (KD6.206) And for defaute of hire foode · þis folk is at my wille

W6.211 (KD6.207)¶ Thei are my blody breþeren quod Piers · for god bouȝte vs alle
W6.212 (KD6.208) Truþe tauȝte me ones · to louen hem echone
W6.213 (KD6.209) And to helpen hem of alle þyng · ay as hem nedeþ
W6.214 (KD6.210) And now wolde I wite of þee · what were þe beste
W6.215 (KD6.211) And how I myȝte amaistren hem · and make hem to werche

W6.216 (KD6.212)¶ Here now quod hunger · and hoold it for a wisdom ·
W6.217 (KD6.213) Bolde beggeris and bigge · þat mowe hir breed biswynke
W6.218 (KD6.214) Wiþ houndes breed and horse breed · hoold vp hir hertes
W6.219 (KD6.215) Abate hem wiþ benes · for bollynge of hir wombes
W6.220 (KD6.216) And if þe gomes grucche · bidde hem go swynke
W6.221 (KD6.217) And he shal soupe swetter · whan he it haþ deserued

W6.222 (KD6.218)¶ And if þow fynde any freke · þat Fortune haþ apeired
W6.223 (KD6.219) Or any manere false men · fonde þow swiche to knowe
W6.224 (KD6.220) Conforte hym wiþ þi catel · for cristes loue of heuene
W6.225 (KD6.221) Loue hem and lene hem · so lawe of god techeþ
W6.226 (KD6.221α)Alter alterius onera portate

W6.227 (KD6.222)¶ And alle manere of men · þat þow myȝt aspie
W6.228 (KD6.223) That nedy ben and nouȝty · help hem wiþ þi goodes
W6.229 (KD6.225) Loue hem and lakke hem noȝt · lat god take þe vengeaunce
W6.230 (KD6.226) Theiȝ þei doon yuele · lat god yworþe
W6.231 (KD6.226α)Michi vindictam & ego retribuam

W6.232 (KD6.227)¶ And if þow wilt be gracious to god · do as þe gospel techeþ
W6.233 (KD6.228) And biloue þee amonges lewed men · so shaltow lacche grace
W6.234 (KD6.228α)Facite vos201 amicos de mammona iniquitatis

W6.235 (KD6.229)¶ I wolde noȝt greue god quod Piers · for al þe good on grounde
W6.236 (KD6.230) Miȝte I synnelees do as þow seist · seide Piers þanne

W6.237 (KD6.231)¶ Ye I bihote þee quod hunger · or ellis þe bible lieþ
W6.238 (KD6.232) Go to Genesis þe geaunt · þe engendrour of vs alle
W6.239 (KD6.233)In sudore and swynk · þow shalt þi mete tilie
W6.240 (KD6.234) And laboure for þi liflode · and so oure lord hiȝte
W6.241 (KD6.235) And Sapience seiþ þe same · I seiȝ it in þe bible
W6.242 (KD6.236)Piger pro frigore · no feeld nolde tilie
W6.243 (KD6.237) And þer-fore he shal begge and bidde · and no man bete his hunger

W6.244 (KD6.238)¶ Mathew wiþ mannes face · mouþed þise wordes
W6.245 (KD6.239) That seruus nequam hadde a Mnam202(c) · and for he wolde noȝt chaffare
W6.246 (KD6.240) He hadde maugree of his maister · euere-moore after
W6.247 (KD6.241) And bynam hym his Mnam · for he ne wolde werche
W6.248 (KD6.242) And yaf þat Mnam to hym · þat ten Mnames hadde
W6.249 (KD6.243) And wiþ þat he seide · þat holy chirche it herde
W6.250 (KD6.244) He þat haþ shal haue · and helpe þere it nedeþ           203(n)

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W6.251 (KD6.245) And he þat noȝt haþ shal noȝt haue · and no man hym helpe           204(n)
W6.252 (KD6.246) And þat he weneþ wel to haue · I wole it hym bireue
W6.253 (KD6.247) Kynde wit wolde · þat ech a wiȝt wroȝte
W6.254 (KD6.248) Or in dikynge or in deluynge · or trauaillynge in preieres
W6.255 (KD6.249) Contemplatif lif or Actif lif · crist wolde þei wroȝte
W6.256 (KD6.250) The Sauter seiþ in þe psalme · of Beati omnes
W6.257 (KD6.251) The freke þat fedeþ hym-self · wiþ his feiþful labour
W6.258 (KD6.252) He is blessed by þe book · in body and in soule
W6.259 (KD6.252α)Labores manuum tuarum &c
W6.260 (KD6.253)¶ Yet I preie yow quod Piers · par charite and ye konne
W6.261 (KD6.254) Any leef of lechecraft · lere it me my deere
W6.262 (KD6.255) For some of my seruauntz · and my-self boþe
W6.263 (KD6.256) Of al a wike werche noȝt · so oure wombe akeþ

W6.264 (KD6.257)¶ I woot wel quod hunger · what siknesse yow eyleþ
W6.265 (KD6.258) Ye han manged ouer-muche · and þat makeþ yow grone
W6.266 (KD6.259) Ac I hote þee quod hunger · as þow þyn hele wilnest
W6.267 (KD6.260) That þow drynke no day · er þow dyne som-what205(c)           206(n)
W6.268 (KD6.261) Ete noȝt I hote þee · er hunger þee take           207(n)
W6.269 (KD6.262) And sende þee of his Sauce · to sauore wiþ þi lippes           208(n)
W6.270 (KD6.263) And keep som til soper tyme · and sitte noȝt to longe           209(n)
W6.271 (KD6.264) And rys vp er Appetit · haue eten his fille           210(n)
W6.272 (KD6.265) Lat noȝt sire Surfet · sitten at þi borde           211(n)
W6.273 (KD6.266) Leue hym noȝt for he is lecherous · and likerous of tunge           212(n)
W6.274 (KD6.267) And after many maner metes · his mawe is afyngred           213(n)

W6.275 (KD6.268)214(c)¶ And if þow diete þee þus · I dar legge myne eris           215(n)
W6.276 (KD6.269) That Phisik shal hise furred hodes · for his fode selle
W6.277 (KD6.270) And his cloke of Calabre · wiþ alle þe knappes of golde
W6.278 (KD6.271) And be fayn by my feiþ · his Phisik to lete
W6.279 (KD6.272) And lerne to laboure wiþ lond · for liflode is swete           216(n)
W6.280 (KD6.273) For murþereris are manye leches · lord hem amende
W6.281 (KD6.274) They do men deye þoruȝ hir drynkes · er destynee it wolde

W6.282 (KD6.275) By Seint Poul quod Piers · þise arn profitable wordes
W6.283 (KD6.277) Wend now hunger whan þow wolt · þat wel be þow euere
W6.284 (KD6.276) For þis is a louely lesson · lord it þee foryelde

W6.285 (KD6.278)¶ Bihote god quod hunger · hennes ne wole I wende
W6.286 (KD6.279) Til I haue dyned bi þis day · and ydronke boþe

W6.287 (KD6.280)¶ I haue no peny quod Piers · pulettes to bugge
W6.288 (KD6.281) Ne neiþer gees ne grys · but two grene cheses
W6.289 (KD6.282) A fewe cruddes and creme · and an hauer cake
W6.290 (KD6.283) And two loues of benes and bran · ybake for my fauntes
W6.291 (KD6.284) And yet I seye by my soule · I haue no salt bacon
W6.292 (KD6.285) Ne no cokeney by crist · coloppes for to maken

W6.293 (KD6.286)¶ Ac I haue percile and porettes · and manye cole plauntes
W6.294 (KD6.287) And ek a cow and a calf · and a cart mare           217(n)
W6.295 (KD6.288) To drawe a-feld my donge · þe while þe droȝte lasteþ
W6.296 (KD6.289) And by þis liflode we mote lyue · til lammesse tyme
W6.297 (KD6.290) And by þat I hope to haue · heruest in my crofte
W6.298 (KD6.291) And þanne may I diȝte þi dyner · as me deere likeþ

W6.299 (KD6.292)¶ Al þe pouere peple þo · pescoddes fetten
W6.300 (KD6.293) Benes and baken apples · þei broȝte in hir lappes
W6.301 (KD6.294) Chibolles and Cheruelles · and ripe chiries manye
W6.302 (KD6.295) And profrede Piers þis present · to plese wiþ hunger

W6.303 (KD6.296)¶ Al hunger eet in haste · and axed after moore
W6.304 (KD6.297) Thanne pouere folk for fere · fedden hunger yerne
W6.305 (KD6.298) Wiþ grene poret and pesen · to poisone hym þei þoȝte
W6.306 (KD6.299) By þat it neȝed neer heruest · & newe corn cam to chepyng
W6.307 (KD6.300) Thanne was folk fayn · and fedde hunger wiþ þe beste
W6.308 (KD6.301) Wiþ good Ale as Gloton taȝte · and garte hunger go slepe

W6.309 (KD6.302)¶ And þo wolde wastour noȝt werche · but wandren aboute

fol.40v

W6.310 (KD6.303)Ne no beggere ete breed · þat benes Inne were
W6.311 (KD6.304) But of Coket and cler-matyn · or ellis of clene whete
W6.312 (KD6.305) Ne noon halfpeny ale · in none wise drynke
W6.313 (KD6.306) But of þe beste and of þe brunneste · þat in Burgh is to selle
W6.314 (KD6.307)¶ Laborers þat haue no land · to lyue on but hire handes218(c)           219(n)
W6.315 (KD6.308) Deyned noȝt to dyne a day · nyȝt-olde wortes           220(n)
W6.316 (KD6.309) May no peny ale hem paie · ne no pece of bacoun           221(n)
W6.317 (KD6.310) But if it be fressh flessh ouþer fissh : fryed ouþer ybake           222(n)
W6.318 (KD6.311) And þat chaud and plus chaud · for chillynge of hir mawe           223(n)
W6.319 (KD6.312) And but if he be heiȝliche hyred · ellis wole he chide           224(n)
W6.320 (KD6.313) And þat he was werkman wroȝt · waille þe tyme           225(n)
W6.321 (KD6.314) Ayeins Catons counseil · comseþ he to Iangle           226(n)
W6.322 (KD6.315)Paupertatis onus pacienter ferre memento

W6.323 (KD6.316)¶ He greueþ hym ageyn god · and gruccheþ ageyn Reson
W6.324 (KD6.317) And þanne corseþ he þe kyng · and al his counseil after
W6.325 (KD6.318) Swiche lawes to loke · laborers to greue
W6.326 (KD6.319) Ac whiles hunger was hir maister · þer wolde noon of hem chide
W6.327 (KD6.320) Ne stryuen ayeins his statut · so sterneliche he loked

W6.328 (KD6.321)¶ Ac I warne yow werkmen · wynneþ whil ye mowe
W6.329 (KD6.322) For hunger hiderward · hasteþ hym faste
W6.330 (KD6.323) He shal awake wiþ water · wastours to chaste
W6.331 (KD6.324) Er fyue be fulfilled · swich famyn shal aryse
W6.332 (KD6.325) Thoruȝ flodes and þoruȝ foule wedres · fruytes shul faille
W6.333 (KD6.326) And so seide Saturne · and sente yow to warne

W6.334 (KD6.327)227(c)¶ Whan ye se þe sonne amys · and two monkes heddes
W6.335 (KD6.328) And a mayde haue þe maistrie · and multiplie by eiȝte
W6.336 (KD6.329) Thanne shal deeþ wiþ-drawe · and derþe be Iustice           228(n)
W6.337 (KD6.330) And Dawe þe dykere · deye for hunger
W6.338 (KD6.331) But god of his goodnesse · graunte vs a trewe           229(n)
Truþe herde telle

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